2010 Craftsman 21 inch 179 cc Snow Thrower Model 88780 Review
NOTE: Go here to see the latest snow throwers. Snow Equipment At Sears
This is a completely new single stage snow thrower. And I think Sears may finally have gotten it right. Why? For the last 5 years Sears has been following the lead of everyone else by selling a single stage snowthrower assuming everyone is looking for the best deal. A lot of people thought that those snow thrower were “good enough” for their needs. But what is interesting to me is that this size and style snowthower has one of the highest return rates of all the snowthrowers sold. If you go to auction sites most of the snow blowers are these little single stage units. So is it the snowthrower that causes the high return? Or the buyer making a decision based solely on price?
This new snowthrower has a much larger intake and auger than previous versions. It is now comparable to the Toro Powercurves. (Up to this point the Powercurves were the only single stage snowblower I liked) It comes standard with a 179 cc motor and electric start.
Craftsman 88780
I will not actually get to use one until it snows up here in Wisconsin, but for now I will recommend this new machine.
Is This Snow Thrower Right For You?
Light Use Only: Designed for light use. A small sidewalk, a one-car cement driveway.
Does One Thing Well: This snow thrower works well if you have foot traffic that packs down the snow before you can get it moved off. The way single-stage throwers are designed, when you lift on the handle the rubber auger actually touches the ground and will chew off stuck snow.
Be Careful On Decks: Because of the way the auger throws you can easily scratch your wooden or composite deck.
Don’t Use On Gravel: You can also easily pick up rocks and other debris so you should never use this snow thrower on a gravel driveway.
It doesn’t blow snow, it throws it: It will blow light powdery snow but will not move heavy wet snow more than a couple of feet at a time.
Lightweight: It is lightweight and very maneuverable. You don’t need power steering or other features found on the two-stage machines.
Is This Snow Thrower Really For You? Let me give you a real world example. I have a 16 foot by 70 foot front drive. I use a 26 inch two-stage snowblower. Usually I start in the middle of the drive and run up and down it throwing the snow straight to the side. Under most conditions the two-stage machine will throw the snow off the drive and OVER the 4 to 6 feet of landscaping on each side. It takes me about 20 minutes to clean 6 inches of snow. One of my neighbors has a 21 inch Toro Powercurve. His drive is about the same size as mine. The single stage does not throw the snow as far as my two-stage so he has to throw it straight in front of him and works cross-ways to the drive. It usually takes him over and hour to clean his drive. This spring I had about 3 feet of snow out on my lawn. My neighbor on the other hand hand piles higher than his pick-up along the edge of his drive.
Features:
Product Description From Sears.com
Featuring great features like push button electric start and manual chute control, the Craftsman 179cc 21″ Single Stage Snow Thrower provides effortless steering, turning and maneuvering. This snow thrower has a large, 21″ clearing path ideal for light snowfall conditions, and with a Snow Claw™ auger, it throws snow far out its discharge chute. This Craftsman Snow Thrower also includes a mitten grip starter handle, so you can have a comfortable grip and better control during all types of snowy conditions.
Powerful engine for great performance, 179cc 4-cycle OHV Craftsman engine
Easy start and operation with push button electric start
Large, 21″ clearing width and 13″ intake height
Snow Claw™ auger propelled helps to throw snow farther out and discharge chute
8″ x 1.5″ wheels for easy mobility
Mitten grip starter handle is easy to grasp while wearing gloves
2 quart fuel capacity
Weight: 98 lbs.
Some assembly required
2-year limited warranty
Warranty: 2 year manufactures defects warranty with up to a 5 year optional protection plan
NOTE: Go here to see the latest snow throwers. Snow Equipment At Sears
After you order it online you can pick it up at your nearest store and not get charged for shipping. You can get your new Craftsman snowblower delivered to your home from the store for a normal charge. Sears has a 30 day price guarantee so you can buy it, watch the sale ads and come into your local Sears and get the difference refunded to you if they come up with a better deal.
NOTE: If you have the snow thrower delivered it will be delivered in a box. If you pick it up at the store they will assume you are bringing a pickup and will keep it in the shipping box.
Assembly is simple: Cut the end out of the box and drag the snow thrower out onto the floor. Find the manual and read the assembly directions. It will only take you about ten minutes to position the handles and attach the chute.
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